Variable-speed device



Dec. 21,1948.- v H, SCHMIDT v 2,456,738

VARIABLE sPEEn-nEvmE Filed Aug. 122, 1947 v I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

E @arfl S chmidt Wuwcmm ATTORNEY Dec; 21, 194

. E. H. SCHMDT VARIABLE MEIZJ) DEVICE s sheets-sheen;

Filed Aug. 22, 1947 I-Ill. -II

INVENTOK. Edgar H.5chmidt BY ATTORNEY E. H. SCHMIDT VARIABLE srman nnvms Dec. 21, 1948.

Filed Au 22, 1947 3 Shasta-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,456,738 7 VARIABLE-SPEED DEVICE Edgar H. SchmidLWilmington; Del., assignor to 'E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application August 22, 1947, Serial No. 770,093

This invention relates to novel devices for translating a constant speed input to a controlled variable speed output for driving attached mechanism, such as indexing mechanism; and particularly to the combination of a modified planetary drive and an interconnected clutch device for periodically connecting and disconnecting the planetary drive to the output or driven member.

In the operation of devices which translate constant speed to an interrupted movement or variable speed where a connection is made and broken between'the driving and driven members, a common defect comprises a too sudden pickup of the driven memberwhich may have relatively great inertia and another defect comprises a lack of ample time for engaging and disengaging the clutch or connecting member.

The present device comprises means for changing a constant speed input to an output which is cycloidal in character. The device comprises a planetary device which is modified for providing a short period amounting to an average zero power output, and means are provided for operating a connection, clutch or latch between the driven member of the planetary mechanism and a power output member for making and breaking the power connection or clutch during the said period of average zero power output.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to an embodiment thereof set forth in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view, of a device comprising a planetary mechanism, a Geneva gear, a clutch, connecting or latching means between the driving and driven members and means for regulating the engagement of the connecting means, all in a casing which is shown in cross section,

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1 with a portion of the casing broken away,

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the device taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig; 3 showing a latch and its operating cam,

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional and'partial elevational view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a partial plan and partial sectional view of a latching device taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 'l,

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a fragment of several parts shown in Fig. 6, illustrating the unlatched position of the members which are shown in latched position in Fig. 4,

7 Claims. (Cl. 74-494) 2 Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the latch operating cam, and Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the relation of the clutch block, the clutch arm anchor block and the sliding clutch arm which is carried by the slotted output power arm.

Referring to Fig. 1, the device comprises a base I which may be mounted on a suitable support. Brackets 2 on the base I are journaledfor supporting the operating members on frame vI. A casing or cover 4 encloses the operating parts. The power input is'through the sprocket wheel 5 which is keyed to the shaft 6. The shaft 6 is journaled near one end in the journal 'I which is carried bygbracket 2 and within the revolving hub 8 of the outputdriven lever 49 (Fig. 3) which is journaled in turn in the main output end bearing III at the output end of the device. The Geneva driving gear II is keyed to the shaft 6 and meshes with the gear l2 which is journaled on a stub shaft I3 bolted on the bracket member 2. A Geneva disc operating lever I4 is journaled on stub shaft i 3 and is secured to gear l2 by the bolt l5. This lever is extended for mounting the roller it at the end on the stub shaft I i for engaging the slot and cam faces of the four-part Geneva gear l8. The Geneva gear I8 is keyed to the shaft I 9 which is mounted to rotate in the journals 20 of the brackets 2. On the shaft I9 is also keyed the latch operating cam 2| which directly actuates the clutch or latch on the power output lever 49 into engaging and disengaging position with the driven slotted lever 40 of .the epicycloidal mechanism. The train including the four-part Geneva gear regulates the frequency that the output lever 49 is actuated. The gears II and I2 are of equal diameter so that in operation the Geneva gear l8, shaft l9 and cam 21 are rotated one revolution for each four revolutions of the input gear 5, shaft 6 and Geneva driving gear ll.

The planetary unit or mechanism comprises the sun gear 3| pinned to the bracket 2 which meshes with the planet gear 32. gear 32 is keyed to a stub shaft 33 (Fig. 3) which is journaled in the journal 34 at the end of the driving arm 35. The driving arm 35 is keyed to the shaft 6 so that it revolves with shaft 8. The lever 36 is secured to the outer end of stub shaft 33. At the extremity of the lever 38 is fastened a stud 38 upon which is joumaled the sliding block 31 which engages the slotted arm 40. The slotted arm 40 is journaled on the main shaft 6. This arm is provided with the slot 4| The planet 3' .or longitudinal runway in which the sliding block 3! slides from end to end of the slot 4| as the lever 36 is turned and simultaneously propels the slotted lever 40 through a variable movement controlled by the cycloidal path assumes of the slide block. Engagement is then made of the sliding block 31 when the arm 88 is.

at virtual rest or average zero power output. The latter is accomplished by making the arm 36 longer than the pitch radius'of the planet gear 32. By this increase of the arm 38 the path of a point in the axis of the stub shaft 38 is a loop at that point where a cusp otherwise occurs in a cycloidal curve when the radius of arm 36 is made equal to the pitch radius of the planet gear 32. For example, a desirable arrangement comprises makingthe arm 38 eightthousandths of an inch longer than the pitch radius of the planet gear 32 for each inch of pitch radius of the planet gear. Each 0.008 of an inch lengthening. of the arm per inch of pitch radius produces an arcuate movement of the slotted arm 40 of 0.001 ofa radian. While the slotted'arm 40 moves 0.001 radian, the arm 35 moves 18. Therefore the duration of virtual rest or average zero power application to the arm 40 to which an output member is engaged and disengaged is the time required for the arm 35'to .turn 18. A slight backward movement of the slotted arm 40 is produced theoretically when the axis of the stub shaft 38 describes the loop in the epicycloidal path but this presents no diffl-.

culty in practice since a slight reversal of the 4 j to engage the track of the cam 2|, The track of the cam 2| (Figs. 4 and8)..is'formed with the track portions 56, 56a, 56b and 56a. The cam is set so that the roller 55 follows the track or groove 56 while the, four-part Geneva indexes the cam 2| through three-quarters of a revo1u-' tion. This retains the clutch latch 46 out of engagement with the clutch block 45. In this position, the latch 46, sliding arm '41 and output powerarm 49 are withheld from angular displacement by the clutch latch anchor block 51. In the illustrated embodiment in which gears H and I2 are in 1:1 ratio, the clutch block 45 goes into a short dwell each time that the drive sprocket 5 makes a complete revolution. During these dwells of the clutch block 45, the cam 2| is rotated through 90 degrees by the operationv of the l-part Geneva gear. Between the 90 rotations ofthe Geneva gear, the cam 2i is at rest and roller 55 is positioned at the points A,

B, itpasses over the portion of track 56aand the arm 41' travels inwardly toward the axis of the shaft 6 withdrawing thearm 41 fromthe anchor block 51. When cam 2|. has turned so that the roller 55has reached the high part56b of cam 2|, or at about the point where the line movementof arm 40 does not interfere with, the engagement of a clutch with the arm. f Inflarge machines where the usual tolerance 18 pr vided in the gear train, the negative characteristic is.

negligible. v

Where it is required to stop the driven device only momentarily, the driven member may be connected directly to the arm 49. In such-case, the Geneva drive and cam 2! may lie omitted Where, however, an extended dwell is desired .in the driven'mechanism in order, for example,- to provide time for performing other operations on objects borne by a conveyor driven bythe output arm 40, a clutch, latch or other form of connector must be provided. For this purpose, an abutment or clutch block on the slotted arm 40 is arranged to engage a clutch, latching member or clutch latch 46 which is movable radially into and out of engagement with the clutch block 45 by means of the Geneva operated cam 2 I.

The clutch latch 46 is carried by the sliding arm 41 which is mounted to slide radially in a slot 48 in the output power lever 49. The output power lever 43 is integral with the enlarged end 5i! is held in place by screws 5i and retains the sliding arm 41 inthe slot so that it can freely move radially. On the outer end of the clutch latch 46, a cam follower or roller '55 is mounted F (Fig. 8) cuts the cam track, theclutch latch 46 and the clutch block 45 have beenbrought' into full engagement while the roller 55 was-passing over the intermediate portion of the cam track between the lines E and F. Afterthe engagement I of clutch latch46 and the clutch block 45, and while the cam dwells, power is applied to the output lever.49 by the rotation of the lever '40 of the cycloidal gear, and lever 49 is rotated through one revolution. After this revolution of lever 49 the Geneva gear again rotates cam 2| through degrees and the roller 55 returns to'track "1561 w "over the intermediate track 560.

the arm 41 is again moved outwardly todise'ngage clutch latch from, the clutch block 45 and to again enter the outer end of armAl in the notch 58 ofanchor'block 51.

-, With this setting ofthe cam 2i on the shaft i9, the" roller 55 traversesthe'intermediate track portions56a and 58c during the time that'the axis of stud 381s describing the loopsgin the cycloidal path which occur during the-zero motion of, the power output arm 40; As shown" in Fig. 8, the track 56b retains the roller '55 in an extreme position in order to maintain engagement f so that the clutch latch 4'6 will be brought into engagement with'the clutch block 45 on the arm '40 for indexing the power output arm'lililf,

While the output power arm;49 is being carried through one revolution of -its indexing traveland I the clutch is engaged, a holding device is provided to securely retain the clutch latch 46 in engagement with the clutch block 45. 'This device comprises the circular upright track 61 which is mounted on the bracket member 2 by -angle clips as and studloolts 'm. When the'sliding block 41 and latch 46 are advanced by the cam roller 55 rolling upon the track portion 56b of At this 2 time the cam, the arm 48 is rotated by the arm 48 and the roller 8| rolls over the beveled edge of the circular band or track 81 and along the inside circular surface thereof. The roller 8| is mounted to turn on a pin 82 near .the outer end of the sliding member 41 so that the roller 8| will enter smoothly onto the inner peripheral surface of the holding band 81 when the latch 48 is depressed by the cam track 581) into latching or clutching position. The holding ring holds the latch 48 in clutching position and prevents disen agement while the driven arm 48 carrying the sliding member 41 and clutch latch 48 are carried through one revolution of the arm. 48. Towards the end of the revolution of the arm 48, the cam 2| is turned by the Geneva disc so that as the roller 8| rides of! the other beveled end of the track 81, roller 85 proceeds into the other intermediate portion 58c of the cam track which has been advanced by the operation of Geneva disc l8 into position for receiving the roller 55.

Then during three indexes of the four-part Geneva disc i8, the roller 55 follows the groove 56 and the latch 48 is held out of engagement with the clutch block 45 during this time. The arm 49 and latch 48 are locked in this disengaged position by the notched clutch anchor block 51 so that they cannot turn. The anchor block51 (Fig. 9) isprovided with a notch 58 corresponding to the cross section of the outer end of sliding bar 41 so that the outer end of bar 41 which carries the rollers 85 and 6| will slide into the notch when the sliding bar 41 is drawn into unlatchin'g position as the roller 55 approaches groove 58 through the groove 880. The anchor block 51 is mounted on the bracket 2 by means of bolts 59 so that the radially sliding bar 41 will enter the notch -58 when the arm 49 and slide 41 are turned by the arm 48 to the unlatching position between the ends of the circular track 81. Then the roller 55 follows the groove 580 of the cam 2| and draws the arm 41 into the notch. The indexed arm 48 is thus positively held from turning while it is disengaged from output lever 40 of the planetary.

Referring to Fig. 8, the roller 55 dwells on cam 2| at the four points A, B, C and D. Between these points, the roller tracks along the cam path by reason of the turning of the cam 2| which is turned by the four-part Geneva gear in the direction indicated by the arrow. During the time that the roller 55 is tracking through the intermediate channel 58a from E to F, the cam 2| clutch block 45. Then while the arm 48 is bein rotated one revolution by the cycloidal arm 48, the arm 41 and clutch latch 48 are prevented bv the ring 81 (Fig. 4) from moving to a position where clutch block 48 and clutch latch 48 will disengage. The clutch engaging position of arm 41 is retained by the roller 8| mounted on arm 41 which tracks on the inner surface of rin 81 during the time that clutch block 45 and clutch latch 48 are in engagement. These parts start to disengage as cam 2| turns and the portion 58c of the cam track approaches the roller 55. The ring 81 is discontinuous in the part where arm 41 comes to rest and is in position,

to be moved radially of the cam 2| and ring 81. The hub 8 is desirably reduced in diameter to provide a projecting portion 8' to which one member of a coupling 22 is attached for transmitting the variable speed output to a device to be indexed.

It is evident that more or less variation than that illustrated can be made in the relative length of the arm 38 in order' to provide more or less time for shifting the clutch block 48. A great variety of variable movements can be provided by varying the relative size of the sun and planet gears, by varying the parting of the Geneva disc l8 and by varying the cam 2|. For example, more than one cam track 58, 58a and 581) can. be formed in the cam 2| so that the reciprocating bar 41 and latch 48 will engage the clutch block 45 more frequently. Two such cams cycloidal instead of the epicycloidal curve described by the same part in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Thevariable movement of the indexed power output shaft 8' will then correspond to the characteristics of a hypocycloidal curve.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be recognized that the invention is susceptible of modification without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and it is to be understood that the invent on is not restricted to the specific illustrations thereof herein set forth.

I'claim:

l. A variable speed driving device which comprises a planetary crank gear train having a rotatable drive shaft, a stationary sun gear, a planet gear meshing with the sun gear, a planet driving arm driven by the drive shaft, said driving arm carrying a. stub shaft journaled therein and said stub shaft carrying said planet gear and a planet ear lever which are mounted on the stub shaft radius of the planet gear; a planet gear lever slide block pivotally mounted at the outer end of,

the planet gear lever; a longitudinally grooved rotatable arm mounted with said slide block in said groove and engaging said arm for rotating the arm in response to the cycloidal movement of the slide block; and means for transmitting the variable speed output of the grooved rotatable arm to a device to be driven.

2. -A variable speed driving device comprising a planetary crank gear train having a rotatable drive shaft, a stationary sun gear, a planet gear meshing with the sun gear, a planet driving arm driven by the drive shaft, said driving arm carrying a stub shaft journaled therein and said stub shaft carrying a planet gear and a planet ear lever which are mounted on the stub shaft to turn integrally therewith, said planet gear lever having a, radius greater than the pitch radius of the planet gear for effecting a period of average zero power output; a planet-gear lever slide block pivotally mounted at the outer end of the planet gear lever; and a longitudinally grooved rotatable arm mounted with said slide block in said grooveand engaging said arm for rotating the arm in response to the cycloidal immanent of the slideblock; an output power lever; atn engaging means for operatively connecting said rotatable arm-of the planet crank gear and said output power lever; and means for operating said engaging means into andout ot engag'ementwhile the said. rotatable arm is positioned at zero-power output and said drive shaft is being rotated.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which the sun gear bears external teeth which mesh with the planet gear.

4. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which the sun gear-bears internal teeth which mesh with the planet gear. I

5. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which the vmeans for operating the, engaging means into and out of engagement with the rotatable arm comprises a Geneva gear; a cam shaft to which the Geneva gear is keyed; a rotatable indexing lever for indexing the Geneva gear; a.

gear train for operatively driving said indexing lever, said gear train being driven from the planetary crank gear drive shaft; 'acam driven by said cam shaft; and a cam follower attached to said engaging means, said cam havingwa release-portion formed to retain the follower and engaging-means in a disengaged position during a portion of the indexing of the Geneva gear, an engage-portion formed to retain the follower and engaging means in engaged position during another portion of the indexing of the Geneva gear,

and intermediate portions between said releaseportion" and engage-portion for transferring the follower'and engaging means into and out oi engaging.- and disengaging positions, said cam being set so that said intermediate portions are y cylindrical track having its axis cox'.

tensive with the axis of the drive shaitrand a contact member on the radially movable member disposed to abut the cylindrical track during said indexing, said cylindrical track being discontinuous where the radially movable mem er is moved into engagement and out oi engagement with the rotatable power deliveryarm.

7. A device in accordance with claim-2 which comprises a member movable radially with respect to the axis of the driveshaft for making enga ement between the rotatable power delivery arm and the output power lever; and means for retaining the output power lever from indexing while the radially movable member is in disengaged position, said means comprising a stationary anchor member having an openingtherein for receiving an outer end portion of the radially movable member when the same is moved radially to its disengaging position and abutting portions for preventing rotation of the radially movable member on the axis of the output power lever.

EDGAR I-I. SCHMIDT.

No references cited. 

